At this point, opposing players should monitor Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall as if he’s wearing an ankle bracelet. Time and time again, players put their heads down, lose their bearings or just put themselves in a vulnerable position and Kronwall is more than happy to teach them a harsh lesson for such a mistake.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Jakub Voracek learned the hard way tonight as Kronwall absolutely demolished him a jaw-dropper of a hit, which inspired this great medley of mayhem (which includes the latest check, of course).

The Canucks won the game 4-2, but much of the talk regarding that Dec. 22 contest revolved around the big body check and Kesler’s distaste regarding Kronwall refusing to drop the mitts afterward. (Maybe Kesler was really just angry that he ignored Henrik Sedin’s warning about Kronwall, which Helene St. James details here in the Detroit Free Press.)

Deep down, Kesler might have revenge on his mind, but letting the game itself get more attention isn’t the worst thing. After all, the Red Wings (69 points) and Canucks (66 points) represent the top two teams in the Western Conference, so don’t begrudge Kesler for trying to eschew the juicier revenge storyline for a drab old clash of the titans angle.